Friction supporting device for mirrors



(N) wel" P M. SAFPORD.-

PRIGTION SUPPORTING DEVICE FOR MIRRORS? TRANSOMS, GIG.` No. 278.364. Patented May 29,1883.

UNITED STATES t PATENT OFFICE.

MARK SAFFORUD, OF BOSTON, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND FRANCIS S.

' FROST, OF ARLINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS.'

FRIcTIoN SUPPORTING DEVICE FoR MIRRORS, TRANsoIvIs, ato.

SPECIFICATION `forming part of Letterslatent No. 278,364, dated May 29, 1,883.

Appnauon ined Maron 10,1883. (No model.)

4To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MARK Snnronn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Friction Supporting Devices for Mirrors, Transoms, Src., of Which the following is afull,

I clear, and exact description, reference being improved hinge.

mirrors, transom-windows, &c.,' where`it is deshape to adapt them for the purpose for which sirable to hold the frame or article supported `in such a manner as to prevent it from swinging toofreely on its pivots and my invention consists in a friction supporting devicefor mirrors, transoms, 85e., composed of a leaf provided with a recess haying supported Within it, at its opposite ends, aat spring, with aspace between the latter and the Vbottom of the recess, i'n combination with a second leaf having immovablygsecured thereto a pintle passing through the recess in the first leaf in contact with said spring, as hereinafter set forth.

In the said drawings, A B represent the two leaves of my improved'friction supportingdevice, which may be of any desired or suitable they areto be used. These leaves-A B are connected together by a pintle, c, one end of which is cast within or otherwise immovably secured to the leaf A, the other end fitting snugly within bearings or aperturesd e in the other leaf, B, as seen in Fig. 3. Within the `leaf B, on the inner side thereof, is formed a `rectangular recess or cavity, f, through which passes the pintle c, beneath which is placed a stiff` flat steel spring, g, the opposite ends of which rest upon shoulders 6 at the ends of the recessj", by which means the spring is kept outof cowntact with the bottom thereof, as is necessary to render it operative. When the several parts ot' the device are put togetherw this spring g is caused to bear at or near its center firmly against the pintle c and produce tional hinge or pivotal supporting device is re- I quired.

It will he seen that as the pintle becomes worn the spring g will still continue to bear thereon and maintain the desired degree of friction, thus insuring durability and causing the device to'remain at all timc s iu an operative condition.

In Fig. 5 is representeda friction support-' ing device having `the same construction and Inode ot" operation as that' above described, but `in which that portion of thepintle c within Athe recessfis provided on two of its opposite sides with llat faces t', against either of which the spring may bear to hold the leaf B in a predetermined position with relation to the leaf A; and it isevident that the pintle may be provided with one flat face only, or with a series of two or more,so placed as to causo the swinging frame or other article supported by the friction supporting device to be steadily held thereby at any predetermined angle or angles, as may be required.

I am aware of Patents No. 225,761, of March 23, 1880, No. 165,469, of July 13, 1855, and No. 251,351, of December 27,1881, in which a friction or brake spring is employed which acts upon a shaft or bolt and serves to hold the moving parts in any desired position. I therefore lay no broad claim to such a device,'nor to any of the devices or details of construction shown in said patents.

What I claim as my invention, and secure by Letters Patent, is

desire to The within-described friction supporting dev I vice for mirrors, transoms, Sac., consisting of the leaf B, with its recess j', having supported IDO within it, at its opposite ends, a flat spring, g, Witness my hand this 6th day of, March, with a space between the latter and the bottom A. D'. 1883.

of the recess, in combination with the leef A, having immovably secured thereto the pintle MARK SAFFORD. 5 o, passing through the recess j' of the leaf B, l in Contact with the spring g, all constructed In presence ofand arranged to operate substantially in the P. E. TESOHEMACHER, `manner and for the purposeset forth. W. J. CAMBRIDGE. 

